VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letter).

Airport myths

May 04, 2001|By Suhail Al-Chalabi

Chicago — The remarks of American Airlines CEO Donald Carty, as reported in your April 18 editorial "O'Hare--Just another airport," are refreshing and long in coming. Only five years ago, American and United Airlines, in a joint letter to members of the Illinois legislature and other elected leaders, denied the looming capacity problem. Now that American Airlines has reversed itself and declared that O'Hare is at capacity, let's have a serious look at the possible solutions. The Tribune and Mr. Carty are calling for runways at O'Hare, now, with the third airport as a future "maybe."

Runways at O'Hare have not undergone any studies. Their layouts have not been planned; the homes and businesses to be displaced have not been determined; the additional areas to be subjected to noise and pollution have not been identified; and the economic benefits of the new runways have not been calculated.

These processes take considerable time and require the cooperation of many suburban municipalities, business and citizen organizations, as well as the leadership of the governor and the mayor of Chicago. And, then, they are sent to Washington.

None of this work has started. Runways cannot he built overnight.

The planning for the third airport has been completed and is awaiting final environmental reviews by the Federal Aviation Administration. This 15-year planning process has been extensive and open, and has involved all stakeholders, proponents and opponents. Concrete for its runways can be poured within two years.

In 1995, there were 3.1 million passengers (17 percent of the regional demand) who originated their air travel from suburban Will and south Cook County and parts farther south and east. These travelers must endure long ground trips to O'Hare, pay very high parking fees to subsidize airline operations and pay the various aviation taxes. These travelers are entitled to having their taxes used to improve their travel.

The only option that is ready to proceed is the region's third airport, the south suburban airport at Peotone. Let us proceed in building it, immediately.